This year's entering class at the University is more diverse than ever, according to race and ethnicity figures released yesterday.
And for the second year in a row and the second time in the University's history, women make up more than half of the first-year class.
While the University's total enrollment declined 0.4 percent, minority student enrollment is at an all time high. According to statistics released yesterday, students of color now make up 25.4 percent of all students, up from 24.8 percent last year.
Figures released last month indicate that of the 5,327 entering students this fall, 2,709 were women, compared to 2,618 men.
John Matlock, director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, said the increasing minority and female enrollment is reflective of the nation's demographics.
"In terms of diversity, as we increase the number of students of color and women, it more and more starts to reflect what the figures are nationwide," Matlock said.
Matlock said the numbers indicate what the work force of tomorrow will look like.
"When you look at the future work force, the majority going in will be minorities and women," Matlock said.
However, this is only the second time in University history that women have outnumbered men in a first-year class, and there are twice as many men than women in this year's entering class of the College of Engineering.
"Proportionately, (the number of) women enrolling at the undergraduate level at Michigan has tended to be below the national average - so this is simply moving closer to the national norm, but the difference is still relatively small," said Carol Hollinshead, director of the Center for the Education of Women.
The number of enrolling minorities this year is double what it was in 1986, the year before the Michigan Mandate was established. The Michigan Mandate, initiated under then-President James Duderstadt, is a University program aimed at increasing minority enrollment.
In a written statement released yesterday, Lester Monts, vice provost for academic and multicultural affairs, said he was pleased with this year's figures.
"These numbers are a bright reflection on the effectiveness of the Michigan Mandate and the University's commitment to diversity," Monts said. "It is my hope that we continue to attract and retain students rich in both their diversity and their academic achievements."
Black student enrollment is at a record high for the sixth year in a row, accounting for 8.9 percent of total enrollment, up from 8.7 percent last year.
Asian American students make up the largest segment of minority enrollment and represent the largest gain over last year. They make up 11.3 percent of enrolled students, up from 10.8 percent last year.
However, Latino/a and Native American student enrollment fell slightly from last year. The number of Native American students dropped from 245 to 226, and Latino/a student enrollment fell one-tenth of a percent.
Students of color now make up 26.1 percent of undergraduates and 23.7 percent of graduate and professional students at the University.
In a written statement, interim President Homer Neal said he hopes efforts to attract students of color will continue.
"We still face numerous challenges - in recruitment, nurturing, and in retention of students," Neal said. "We must reaffirm and work to rearticulate the goals of the (Michigan) Mandate and the means to achieving those goals in full comportment with the law, and in the face of public challenges from various quarters."